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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2013 12:13:50 GMT -5
so, before I make the full switch, and remove the kibble from the cage, I was wondering if someone would please read over my weekly menu plan, and let me know if I need to change anything  -monday AM: chicken necks PM: ox tail -tuesday AM: turkey wings PM: liver, kidney & pumpkin -wednesday AM: chicken wings PM: beef chunks & dried eggshell -thursday AM: turkey necks PM: pork chunks & pumpkin -friday AM: chicken wings PM: kangaroo & pumpkin -saturday AM: chicken legs PM: lamb chunks & pumpkin -sunday AM: turkey wings PM: heart, kangaroo & pumpkin I mainly add the dried eggshell when they're being too lazy to finish bones  they also get duck and rabbit when we go hunting. just a query, can I give fox meat to the ferrets? I haven't seen it written in the forum anywhere thank you!!  |
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Post by Heather on Jan 12, 2013 13:34:09 GMT -5
How are your guys stools?
The diet appears ok. You've got your protein minimum (more is obviously better..you're doing fine there). There's the meal of heart and organ meats. Looks good in it's basic format. You will probably have to adjust for individuals but your basic format appears to be sound
Feeding fox....I would guess that it should be fine. As all game meats, freeze for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to feeding. One thing to consider is that feeding fox, here vs where you are could also be a consideration. Know your local parasites and infections....I'm guessing if you're a hunter you would be aware of this in your area.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2013 15:08:17 GMT -5
My only concern with something like fox is rabies or canine distemper possibly if you happen to have an outbreak in your area. Since both are generally spread via coming into contact with the infected animal through fluids etc...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2013 3:55:36 GMT -5
Their stools are dark brown and thick. Not the black, solid poops they used to do when on kibble. Sometimes their stools are grey, is that from too much fat or bone?
Is there a limit of how much fat you can feed a ferret?
We only hunt on private farm land, so if there's something wrong with the wild animals, the farm animals will be sick too, and we'd be aware of it. We also check gums, eyes, fur, etc too make sure they were well before feeding to the dogs
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Post by Sherry on Jan 13, 2013 9:33:34 GMT -5
The grey colour in the stools could well be from fat. I've actually had them poop white when eating a large amount in a given meal. And like anything else, the diet shouldn't be too heavy on any one thing, including fat. That said- ferrets do need more fat in their diet than dogs.
As for the fox- just don't feed the liver. Most carnivore livers are too high in vit. A
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2013 19:57:39 GMT -5
Ok, it's just that I have some really fatty off cuts of meat, and was worried I'd have to trim them, but they should be ok if they're only getting that meat once a week right?
The only thing I have trouble with is getting them to eat kidney, do you have any tips to help with that?
Thank you all for your help. I'm so proud of my babies and how quick and willing they've been to switch.
Should it be ok to take the kibble bowl out of there now?
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Post by Heather on Jan 13, 2013 22:28:18 GMT -5
I create an organ soupy. I've gone through several wee fuzzes who won't eat either their kidney or their liver and when you've got a number of the wee brats sometimes finding an alternative rather than fighting is sometimes better. I just took the amount I needed of organs for the week, mixed heart and organ meats and some meat and throw it in the food processor (my meat mix has bone in it, so I can't put it in the food processor) and turn it into a soupy. I usually add some pumpkin and a raw egg as well. You can either feed it all at once as one meal or divide it up into a couple of meals. It's always a good idea to have them comfortable with soupy so that they will eat it when they're sick. That's how I feed my guys organ meats.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2013 1:23:14 GMT -5
They eat every organ except kidney. And they won't eat soupie that has kidney in it. And if they do it, it's only a couple of licks, then they get bored cause its not meat they can tear apart  |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 14, 2013 10:31:44 GMT -5
If they are eating organs other than kidney, I don't think I'd worry TOO much about it then. Otherwise something that may help is to put the kidney in the fridge in a dish, and let it drain for a couple of days, rinsing daily. That helps to drain some of the urea out of them. For humans, my mother used to cover kidney in milk in the fridge for two days, changing the milk out daily and rinsing. That seemed to work even better It was rinsed thoroughly again before cooking, so it could potentially work well for ferrets as well since they won't be getting any of the actual milk. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2013 10:49:44 GMT -5
I fed chicken wings for breakfast this morning, and when I came home there was slimy chicken on the cage floor (not in prey box) there was 3 little piles, of different consistencies. I'm quite confident it was vomit :/
Also one of their poos was in 3 sort of sections, a slimy medium brown bit, a grainy grey bit, and a green thick bit :/
I think they were both Xanthees as she refuses to use both litter box and prey box. She's acting fine but I'm really worried
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Post by Heather on Jan 14, 2013 12:05:42 GMT -5
She may have eaten too fast...the poops though they sound weird, sound very similar to raw fed poops. They can be interesting. I would keep an eye on her but unless you see a loss of appetite or lethargy I would observe only and not worry too much.
ciao
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Post by Sherry on Jan 14, 2013 19:33:35 GMT -5
Agreed- she did most likely eat too fast(we've had that happen more than once here ;D ). And poop sounds pretty normal.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2013 23:02:58 GMT -5
That does sound about right, she is the little piggy of the family.
But she also coughs and wheezes a lot, so I slept on the couch in their room to make sure she wasn't choking instead.
I woke up to a mangled chicken foot being dragged over my face and into my pillow case -.-
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Post by Sherry on Jan 14, 2013 23:16:14 GMT -5
Life with ferrets ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2013 0:01:04 GMT -5
Well if I shouldn't be overly concerned over their stools and vomit, then I can confidently and proudly say I have just removed the kibble bowl - for good! I have two little babies who have gnawed and devoured their way to a completely raw diet. I'm so so so happy right now!  |
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